Pedro Camejo was born into slavery as a servant of the Spanish royalist Vicente Alonzo in San Juan de Payara (Estado Apure, Venezuela).
Forced to serve under the Spanish army, he fought against the independence fighters led by Simón Bolívar until joining them in the battle for independence in 1816.
Until his death in the famous (second) Battle of Carabobo against the troops of Miguel de la Torre in 1821, which finally led to Venezuelan independence, he served under the eminent general José Antonio Páez, who, apart from playing an important role in the fight for independence, was elected president of Venezuela after 1831.
Pedro Camejo, who is also known as “El Negro Primero” (the first black), stands as a symbolic figure of courage and strong will who made his way from slavery up to participating in the glorious struggle for independence from the Spanish colonialists, reaching the rank of lieutenant.
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Ross, Catherine. "Camejo, Pedro or Negro Primero (1790–1821)." The International Encyclopedia of Revolution and Protest (2009): 1-1.
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